Physically modified starch as a carbon source for Bifidobacterium sp. in in vitro and in vivo studies

Summary.

The aim of the work was to evaluate the prebiotic properties of physically modified starch obtained by high pressure homogenization of the gel. In in vitro studies selected strains belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium were cultured in standard MRS medium supplemented with the following alternate carbon sources: glucose, maltodextrin, non-modified potato starch and modified starch. MRS medium without carbohydrate was used as a negative control. During the culture-experiments the number of microorganisms, rate at which they assimilated sugars, as well as amount of short chain fatty acids they produced were determined. In in vivo studies the number of Bifidobacterium spp. in the cecum of rats fed with diet containing modified starch or preliminarily gelatinized native starch was evaluated. It was found that the physically modified starch possessed prebiotic properties similar to the known analogues of starch resistant to amylolitic enzymes.